JIJ and Kobe Steel Sign Framework Agreement to Launch Quantum Center of Excellence

Tokyo-based software startup JIJ Inc. and industrial manufacturer Kobe Steel have entered into a multi-year framework agreement to establish a collaborative Quantum Center of Excellence. This initiative aims to integrate quantum computing and mathematical optimization into the KOBELCO Group’s core operations across its materials, machinery, and electric power divisions. By transitioning from pilot projects to production-ready applications, the partnership seeks to address complex industrial engineering challenges that exceed the capabilities of classical computation.

The agreement establishes a programmatic rollout designed to build internal organizational capabilities and develop specialized engineering talent within the KOBELCO Group. The primary objective is to move quantum applications out of isolated testing phases and into active production environments. This strategy supports Kobe Steel’s "KOBELCO-X" corporate transformation initiative, which is part of its current Medium-Term Management Plan aimed at achieving structural ambidexterity by balancing legacy margins with new business models.

During the first year of operation, the Quantum CoE will focus on specific industrial engineering problems where classical methods struggle with conflicting variables. Key technical implementation projects include materials design, specifically the configuration of alloy properties that must meet competing mechanical constraints. Additionally, the partnership will tackle production scheduling and process optimization within complex logistics boundaries, utilizing JIJ’s open-architecture mathematical modeling platform to create algorithms compatible with hybrid classical and quantum environments.

JIJ will provide the underlying software foundations for this shift, leveraging its international presence and memberships in organizations such as the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) and UKQuantum. The functional roadmap for the Quantum CoE includes three main pillars: technical deployment in materials and scheduling, talent cultivation to develop internal domain experts, and the establishment of a governance base for operational rules and next-generation infrastructure. This collaborative effort represents a significant step in industrializing quantum-inspired optimization for large-scale manufacturing and power generation.